Unplugged

 

This is the latest, couples are asking guests to unplug their phones when they come to their wedding. They want people to focus on their wedding and not on their phones. That includes taking pictures. Ministers are being asked to announce to guests that they not post pictures of the wedding until after the couple have. I guess it has come to this. 

I recently forgot my phone at home. I felt like I had left a toddler home alone, unattended. The thing is, "not one person left me a message or called me". NOT ONE! I have on the rare occasion turned around and picked up my forgotten phone, but I usually just carry on. It doesn't mean I don't think about it, who wouldn't think of a toddler left home alone.

I have phone rules for myself such as I leave my phone in my purse when I go out for lunch or coffee. I do lower the volume or use the silence button when necessary. I apologize to the person I am with, if I need to check or reply to a text message.  

Something I have done is limit notifications. I am only notified if I get a text. I will get to my social media later. I am not a lover of group chats, but I do value them. I am easily distracted by the pinging of a phone, mine or someone else's.   

At the gym, the owners put up a sign asking people not to take their phones to the work out area. Efforts are being made in some school districts for restrictions of phone use by students. From what I can see there are very few or no restrictions in the workplace.    

Dependance on a phone is incredible. Texting is a quick answer to any question. We all have those friends that reply in the next 6 seconds, if they don't we assume something horrible has happened. What else could it be. I think we develop a "return text", time frame for contacts. Concern sets in if that text doesn't happen within that time. Crazy ideas go through your head, and it can even escalate to thinking about a wellness check at their home. 

There are people that don't own cell phones nor participate in social media. They lead an unplugged life. If they want to know something, they call that person. We have gotten to the point that we never just phone someone. You have to send a text to organize a time to talk or to say, "can you chat". It is common practice for people if they don't recognize the number, they don't answer the call or even if they do, they let it go to voicemail. When was the last time you got a person on the phone when you called a business. It is a long-drawn-out call of pushing numbers and being sent to every department. There are occasions that you never get a person to speak to. I have to say since I closed my business, my devotion to my phone has changed. I am so much more unplugged than I was at that time. 

The average person has around 4 digital devices. Apparently, too much TV can create mental confusion. TV is the basis for fear-based news reports. Right now, I am not sure how I would describe the news. Overall, it is a huge concern for our mental health. 

Most parents have rules about screen time for their children. I think that is amazing, if it works. I do witness a lot of discussion and bartering going on regarding screen time. What about the child that doesn't have a phone or has rules about its use. It must be hard as a parent to demonstrate good device use, to a child with limited use. The options have come a long way since Nintendo hit the market.  

I love the easy access to information that devices provide. The bonuses are being able to connect with someone in a second and you can google anything in a minute. You are always current and caught up on Facebook and email. Phones are now our photo albums. For those reasons, it is easy to lose hours staring at a screen of any sort. 

Technology is here to stay. Maybe we just need to brush up on being respectful in the use of technology. Writing this post has been a great reminder for me to remember my rules of technology use.